Top 6 Cat & Kitten Chew Toys to Promote Healthy Teeth

It’s easy to assume that dogs and small mammals are the only animals who enjoy things like chew toys, however, chew toys can prove to be very popular and beneficial for cats.

Chew toys are most popular with kittens who are teething, although you may be surprised to hear that a number of adult cats actually enjoy chewing as well. Sometimes you may even end up with an adult cat who has Pica and cannot resist chewing on absolutely everything.

Chew toys come in a number of shapes, sizes and purposes, but my personal favourite chew toys are the ones that help promote dental health. For me, if a toy catches two birds with one stone, I’m happy.

Now, I’m aware that chew toys aren’t going to be the be all end all for proper oral care for your cat, but they can definitely help make sure that vet visits are a bit easier. Similar to humans, regular brushing and flossing will help reduce the amount of tartar and plaque, however, you will still need regular cleanings and checkups to make sure your cat isn’t suffering from any diseases like gingivitis.

Now, if you have a cat who loves catnip, you’re in luck since the majority of these toys have catnip sewn into them, however, even if they don’t you can easily spray some catnip onto the toy to entice your cat.

Without further ado, let’s get diving into some of my favourite chew toys!

Price: $12.47

This toy is a larger version of the two toys above and isn’t actually available in most pet stores for some reason!

Personally, I feel like this toy has a bit too much netting and while this would be great for flossing your kitty’s teeth, I’m not sure it would do very well in our household (given our experience with the first toy.)

I will say though if you’re worried about your cat swallowing smaller toys, this one is the one for you. It’s big enough for your cat to grab onto and chew, and should be fairly durable due to how thick the stuffing is.

Same as the toys above, this toy is infused with catnip and seems like it would be suitable for both kittens and adults.

Price: $11.99

My cats are not super into plastic toys as they like softer toys with wool or string attached to them, so these toys weren’t a huge hit, however, they have been a huge hit for some of the foster’s I’m friends with.

These toys are very suitable for teething kittens and are some of the most durable cat chews.

The great thing about plastic toys is the fact that you can throw them into the freezer to chill them if your kitten has sore gums. Not only that, the nubs on the ends of the plastic ring are great for massaging your cat’s gums.

The strings on this toy seem to be the most enticing part of the toy and while this toy is promoted as great for cleaning teeth, I don’t necessarily agree.

I would say this toy is only beneficial for teething and if you’re hoping to get some cleaning action going on… well it’s the wrong choice!

That being said, if you are taking care of a very young kitten (up to 6 months old) I think they will really enjoy this toy. Adult cats would probably only enjoy this if they are already chewers and like the feeling of plastic.

Price: Check on Amazon

This toy is for those kitties who are impartial to catnip and/or love mint!

Similar to the toy immediately above, this toy hasn’t been the biggest hit in our household (as our cats don’t care for mint), however, a friend of mine has had huge success with this toy.

Her cats hate catnip and are more interested in valerian and we were both fairly shocked when all 3 of her cats took to the mint stick. I immediately had to buy one to see whether or not my kitty, Beau liked it and when he didn’t, I passed it off to her!

Mint is actually used in a lot of cat food as a way to keep your cat’s teeth smelling good, and that is the main hope of this toy.

This toy has dried mint packed into its ends as well as a bit in the center, although the ends are much more potent.